Highlights of Myanmar
Places of Interest
Putao
 Putao
is a lonely charming town with breathtaking scene surrounded by
snow-peaked mountains at the very northern part of Myanmar. It
can be reached only by flight. It is cool the whole year round
and there are many varieties of citrus fruits grown in the
orchards. It is the nearest town to the base camp for hiking,
trekking and climbing Mt. Khakhaborazi (5889 metres) through
local villages with its different hill tribes. Mt. Khakhaborazi
is the highest mountain in Myanmar, in Southeast Asia and it
stretches up to Himalaya.
 Myeik
Archipelago (Mergui)
Myeik Archipelago is the southernmost coast in Myanmar with
its eight hundred islands in over ten thousand square-mile as
well as a world-class diving destination, with beautiful coral
reefs and a rich variety of marine life. The human inhabitants
of the region include the Salon or Moken sea gypsy people.
Mergui world is for those who seek for real nature, yachting and
other pleasure.
Salay
 It
is a lovely town about 15 km south of Bagan, down the
Ayeyarwaddy River. The Sale Yok Sone Kyaung is an all-teak
Monastery with magnificent carvings featuring traditional
motifs, U pone Nya Museum, exhibits antique lacquer wares,
wooden relief and a large standing gilded Buddha image. Another
place worth visiting is Tha-ta-na Kyaung (Keythar Monastery)
where Tipitaka texts are housed in a large red lacquered
cabinet.
 Mawlamyine
(Moulmein)
Mawlamyine, a sweet town is the capital of Mon State,
situated at the mouth of the Thanlwin River (Salween River). It
is easily accessible by road and rail from Yangon. Sites to see
in Mawlamyine are Kyaikthanlan Pagoda, Uzena Pagoda, Caves of
Kawgaun and Payon, famous for its countless Buddha images,
stalagmites and stalactites. Kyaikkhami Pagada, Perched on the
rocks by the sea and joined to the land by a covered causeway,
is the main attraction.
Monywa
 Monywa
is a typical, bustling up-country town 84 miles (135 km) from
Mandalay. It is a commercial centre of Chindwin Valley region.
Sites to see in Monywa are Than-bok-de Pagoda with over 500,000
Buddha Images, Bodhi-ta-htaung (one thousand Bo trees), Ledi
Kyaungteik monastery where Buddhist scriptures are inscribed on
806 stone slabs and Kyauka Village known for its own style of
lacquer ware.
 Myitkyina
Myitkyina is the capital of Kachin State where visitors can
enjoy the scene of the confluence (Myitsone) of Maikha and
Malikha, the source of the Ayeyarwaddy River. There are regular
flights from Yangon and Mandalay to Myitkyina. In Myitkyina
central market you will find a vast array of their thick cotton
fabrics with designs woven in red wool or shoulder bags
decorated with silver Kachin motifs.
Bamaw
 Bamaw
is a small town and sets prettily amid rolling hills. One can
encounter colourfully dressed members of Lisu, Rawan, Kachin,
Shan and Palaung national races shop in the town. Some street
bazaars open at around 4 am, with flickering candles dimly
showing fruits, flowers and vegetables. It is possible to take a
double-decker river boat from Bhamo to Mandalay. It’s an
enjoyable trip, which passes through the scenic beauty of
nature.
Lashio
Lashio is a sprawling town near the Chinese border, always
busy with trade coming to and from Mandalay and Ruili in China.
It is a bustling commercial center between China and Myanmar.
 Pyin
Oo Lwin
Pyin Oo Lwin is an enjoyable town, located on over 1000
metres above sea-level, a popular hill station about 69 km away
from Mandalay. It is will-known for fits colonial-style houses
with large compound and pine trees, eucalyptus and silver-oak
abound in town. Delightfully cool and pleasant the whole year
round, the 175 hectare Botanical Garden, Pwe Kauk and natural
waterfalls, Goteik Viaduct and Peik Khin Myaung Caves are places
of interest.
Kyaink Tong
 Kyaing
Tong is the capital city of the Golden Triangle Region, a pretty
place where stroll in the evening around Naung Ton Lake. Kyaik
Tong has many sites to see besides the ethnic tribes in
colourful dresses. It is the main gateway and strategic location
between Myanmar, Thailand, China and Laos. There are many hill
tribes such as Wa, Shan, Akha and Lahu that live separately in
different villages around hill sites. There are regular flights
from Yangon to Kyaik Tong.
 Taunggyi
It is well known as Summer Palace as it is a hill station,
cool and pleasant all the year round. Taunggyi is not a hill
station but a busy trade centre. The market on every fifth day
is crowded with ethnic minorities in their traditional dresses.
The journey from Taunggyi down to Inle Lake area takes about an
hour.
Kalaw
Kalaw is another small hill station, is 1400 metres above
sea-level. Many of Tudor-style houses and English gardens of
colonial days remain. It is within a day’s drive from Inle Lake.
The cool climate of the hill station is perfect for flowers and
in spring and summer the roads are lined with thickly flowering
crocus.
Inle Lake
 Inle
Lake stretches two miles (17.7 km) in Nyaungshwe basin of
Southern Shan State at an altitude of 2918 ft (889 m) above sea
level. This vast picturesque lake is one of the main tourist
attractions in Myanmar. It has a population of some 150,000;
many of them live on floating islands of vegetation. Inle Lake,
natural and unpolluted, is famous for its scenic beauty and the
unique leg-rowing of the Inthas, the native lake dwellers.
 Pindaya
Pindaya is just about 45 km drive from Kalaw, well known for
being believed to contain more than 8000 images of all sizes,
carved in wood, stone, marble and bronze, some thickly gilded
and interesting stalagmites in the three caves along the cliff.
The caves are set deep in the hillsides and there stands at the
entrance, a 15 meter high Shwe U Min Pagoda.
Pakokku
 Pakokku
is a prosperous trading town in central Myanmar with its
conservative atmosphere far from cities like Yangon or Mandalay
where there are big cars and big houses but in Pakokku there big
monasteries and pagodas. The Hhiho Shin pagoda not far from the
river is an ancient one, but does not show its age as it has
been well-preserved over the ages. There are also some beautiful
monasteries built from teak wood in Pakokku.
Pyay
On the eastern bank of the mighty Ayayarwaddy River, Pyay is
located about 285 km north of Yangon. It is easily accessible by
road or by rail which takes about 5 hours. North-east of the
town is Thaye Khittaya (Sri Ksetra), an archaeological site of
the ancient Pyu capital (5th to 9th Century). Beside the
glittering pagodas, there are other historical sites of interest
in and around Pyay.
 Kyaikhtiyo
Pagoda
Kyaikhtiyo, or Golden Rock, this mystical pagoda stands on a
gold gilded boulder, precariously perched on the edge of the
hill over 1100 km above sea-level near Kyaikhto town in Mon
State is regarded as a miracle by Buddhist devotees. This small
sphere is believed to have enshrined a hair relic of the Buddha.
It is an 11 kilometer uphill climb for the hikers from Kinpun
base camp. There is also a steep winding road for 4 wheel drive
cars from the base to the nearest pint of the pagoda. The wide
open platform gives a fantastic view of distant mountains,
especially at sunset. A large ordination hall near the entrance
of the pagoda has the look of a crown with many tiers. Devotees
believe that a pilgrimage to this pagoda brings them good health
and fortune.
Mrauk-U
 Myauk
U is the 15th Century ancient city of Rakhine Kingdom, known for
its old temples with wall paintings of Indian cultural
influence. The Rakhine civilization was contemporary to the Pyu,
and the 2nd Century Greek geographer Ptolemy referred to the
Kingdom as Argyre, which later historians identified as
‘Arakan’. The Mrauk U period from 1430 to 1784 CE was the last
kingdom in Rakhine history. It was an era of final greatness and
glory of Mrauk U. A regular passenger boat takes hours from
Sittwe (Akyab) to Mrauk U. A special speed boat with 20 seats
takes only 2 ˝ hours. Regular flights from Yangon to Sittwe take
about one and a half hours. Shitthaung Pagoda, Dukkanthein
Pagoda, Andawthein Shrine are some places of interest to see in
Mrauk U.
 Beaches
Myanmar processes some of the world’s most beautiful beaches
with white silvery sands along its 1385 miles (2229 km)
coastline from Nat River to Kawthaung. The best is Ngapali
Beach, about one hour by air from Yangon. Other popular beaches
are at Ngwe Saung, Chaungtha, Maungmagan, Letkhokone, Settse and
Kanthayar.
Yangon
 Yangon
is the capital city and the main gateway to Myanmar. Yangon is
known as the Garden City of the east with its evergreen and lush
tropical trees, shady parks and beautiful lakes. It has a
population of over 5 million and covers over 350 sp km. The
Shwedagon Pagoda, one of the wonders of the world represents
Myanmar Buddhist essence to all visitors.
 Mandalay
Mandalay is the centre of Myanmar culture as well as the
commercial centre with rail, road, and river and air links to
all parts of the country. Mandalay is the last capital of
Myanmar kingdom known as Ratanabon-nepyi (meaning Gem City), was
built by king Mindon. Today, it is the second largest city
boasting its rich cultural heritage.
Bagan
 Bagan
is also one of the wonders of the world and the main tourist
attraction in Myanmar. It is one of the richest archaeological
sites in Asia and located on the eastern bank of the Ayeyarwaddy
River. As being the capital of first Myanmar Empire, Bagan is
with its historical accounts and covers an area of 42 sq km
containing over 2000 well preserved pagodas and temples of the
11th – 13th Century. It is a wonderful to enjoy the sunset from
the middle of mighty Ayeyarwaddy River. |
